Chapter 18
Well, Frannie let me tell you something about that apartment building. It was a twenty-story building made in the 1930’s. The architecture of the building was in the style called Art Deco. There was a doorman you had to report to before you could even enter the building. There were statues and figures surrounding all areas of the building’s façade.
On the inside of the lobby mirrors covered the walls lined with maroon velvet. A matching maroon carpet covered the floor. A crystal chandelier with flame style bulbs hung from the ceiling. A security guard sat at a small, cluttered desk on the right hand side of the lobby, closest to the stairs.
Phil and I had to explain to the guard who we were and who we were going to visit with. When the guard was satisfied, he led us to the elevators. Yes, little girl, the elevators, there was one on either side of the lobby.
He led us to the one on the left. Neil’s apartment wasn’t even in the building, it was the penthouse on the rooftop, which meant that we had to take the elevator to the top floor and walk up one flight of stairs to the top.
Frannie, you would never believe it. The elevator led us out to the foot of stairs and we walked up to the door. There was a small, enclosed rooftop garden complete with waterfalls and palm trees. In front of the entranceway, were, at least twenty cardboard boxes full of Neil’s belongings, ready to be moved where and whenever.
Brushing past the garden, I knocked on his front door.
Neil opened it and a smile lit up his face. He shook his head.
“If it isn’t Johnny Castle, the big dancer and choreographer on Broadway. So how many shows are you working on now? I hear your three shows are doing just fine. I guess we underestimated you.� He looked him up and down, a stupid grin plastered on his face. “ Look at you, you don’t look at day over…�
“Quiet, Neil,� I said, knowing that I was probably wrong for speaking to him that way, but this time I didn’t care.
“You know why we are here.�
Neil’s smile disappeared. He knew perfectly well why. He had been waiting for this all afternoon. “Where’s Phil Bowman?�
“Right here, Mr. Kellerman,� Phil said, extending his hand. “We are here to finalize this deal.�
“Come in, come in, gentlemen.�
And so we did.
Chapter 19
Last entry about Neil, I promise.
He led us into an almost bare living room, with most of the furniture and knick-knacks already gone. There was a bridge table set up in the middle of the room by the large front window.
Neil gestured to the table, realizing that he only had two folding chairs, went off to find another.
I think he was slightly embarrassed, Frannie, and he didn’t know what to do with me.
Neil came back and placed the chair on the left side of him.
“I hear that you married Baby Houseman,� Neil said, smiling.
“Yes and our three children came along for the ride,� I said, sitting down. I wasn’t kidding. Frannie wasn’t mine, but I was bringing her up nevertheless. We had one boy, Jonathan and she was six months pregnant with our third.
“Well, I suppose you’ve been busy,� he looked at me. “I hear your oldest is five years old now. When was she born, Johnny-boy, huh, Johnny?�
“Why you little…� I lost my temper again. Thank the Lord Phil broke in when he did.
“We are here to sign those contracts now, if you don’t mind, Neil and then we’ll be on our way.�
“We wouldn’t be taking up much more of your time than we have to, Neil,� I said, dropping the papers and pushing them across toward him. I’ll answer your questions before we go.�